Abuja—Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked and violent attack on peaceful demonstrators during a #FreeNnamdiKanu rally held in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking on Channels Television, Sowore alleged that a combined team of personnel from the police, army, and civil defence descended upon the protesters, opening fire and deploying tear gas shortly after the demonstration began outside the Transcorp Hilton.
Sowore, who was present at the scene, firmly stated that the protest, which demanded the release of the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, was organized and peaceful.
“There were about 10 trucks that arrived as soon as we started the protest,” Sowore recounted. “There was no provocation on our part, like we had promised; it was an orderly and peaceful protest.”
He then described the swift escalation of force by the security teams: “Suddenly, from nowhere, they started shooting at us, tear gas, and some live bullets were fired. Luckily, I don’t think anybody was hit with live bullets, but they were just shooting all around us,” he alleged.
The activist confirmed that the operation resulted in multiple arrests, including high-profile individuals associated with the detained leader.
“Eventually, they did arrest some people,” Sowore said, confirming that Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and Kanu’s legal counsel were among those apprehended. He further alleged that both individuals were “beaten” before being transported to the Nigeria Police Force FCT Command.
Sowore confirmed that despite the alleged use of live rounds, no member of his immediate protest team was hit. The incident, however, underscores persistent tension surrounding protests related to the separatist leader and the immediate response of state security apparatuses to public demonstrations in the FCT.
